Stormwater Quality

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater runoff is precipitation that falls onto impervious surfaces such as roadways, driveways, parking lots and rooftops where it can accumulate pollutants, such as sediment, fertilizers, chemicals, oils, pet waste and trash. Instead of being absorbed into the ground, stormwater moves over these surfaces and makes its way into the drainage system and eventually into the Yampa River and its tributaries.

Did You Know?

Unlike sanitary sewers that carry wastewater to treatment plants, storm drains like these convey stormwater directly to rivers, ponds, and streams without treatment.

Illicit Discharges

It is illegal to dump or discharge pollutants to our waterways (See Muni Code) Illicit Discharges may include fuel and chemical spills, hazardous material dumped along a roadway or into a storm drain, leaking dumpsters, discolored or foul smelling water, improper washing of concrete trucks, power washing to storm drains or waterbodies, leaking sanitary sewers, etc.

What does the City do to prevent stormwater pollution?

Stormwater is conveyed into local water bodies via a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4). To prevent harmful pollutants from being washed or dumped into an MS4, the City must obtain a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) permit, commonly known as an MS4 Permit and develop a stormwater management program that include:

Public Participation/Involvement,

Public Education & Outreach,

Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination,

Pollution Prevention & Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations,

Construction Site Management, and

Post-Construction Management.

Construction Site Management

Construction activity that will result in a land disturbance of greater than or equal to one acre or that is part of a common plan of development must submit a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) when applying for a building permit through the Routt County Regional Building Department.

In addition, projects must implement appropriate control measures during each phase of construction to prevent erosion, sediment, and other materials from polluting our waterways. See the following for more information: